ANAHEIM – The Angels’ home opener Friday night was a dud before the first pitch even was thrown.

It started when the military called to say they had to cancel a scheduled flyover during pregame ceremonies. The Angels did not specify the reason. Kenny G tried his best to pump up the home team with his saxophone rendition of the national anthem, but it was hardly the same.

The Angels made things interesting with a six-run ninth inning but were grounded most of the night against Texas Rangers starter Kason Gabbard in an 11-6 defeat.

The Rangers left-hander, who finished spring training with a 10.80 ERA in Cactus League play, only made the rotation when Luis Mendoza came up with a blister problem.

Angels starter Dustin Moseley, who also made his rotation because of injuries, was no match for Gabbard. Moseley gave up his first run of the night in the second inning on a wild pitch that sailed well over the head of catcher Mike Napoli.

In the fourth, Moseley gave up a double, a walk and hit a batter before Ben Broussard crushed a grand slam into the seats in right-center to give the Rangers a 5-0 lead.

“Dustin is a guy that relies on contact and getting into the zone,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “He got behind in some counts and one breaking ball wasn’t too bad of a pitch but Broussard put a good swing on it and hit it out of the park.”

Gabbard, who was acquired by the Rangers at the trade deadline last season from the Boston Red Sox as part of a package for Eric Gagne, gave up seven hits and two walks in his seven scoreless innings.

With many in the opening night crowd of 43,838 waiting for postgame fireworks, the Angels gave them something to cheer about by sending 11 batters to the plate in the ninth inning against three Rangers pitchers.